Effect of Various Drugs on Epinephrine-Induced Pulmonary Edema in Rabbits.∗

Summary 1. Pulmonary edema and mortality induced in rabbits by intravenous injections of epinephrine were completely prevented by comparatively small doses of adrenergic blocking drugs, N-(2-bromoethyl)-N-ethyl-1-naph-thalenemethylamine. HBr (SY-28) and N-(2-chloroethyl) - N-ethylbenzhydrylamine. HCl (SY-2). 2. It would appear unlikely that epinephrine toxicity and the pulmonary edema involved are importantly related to histamine release from tissues since the antihistaminics, Pyranisamine (Neoantergan maleate) and Phenergan (3277 RP), failed to prevent edema although large subcutaneous doses of Phenergan reduced mortality. 3. The barbiturates, pentobarbital sodium and phenobarbital sodium did not decrease mortality or edema. 4. The available evidence indicates that epinephrine toxicity is most readily reduced by vasodilator drugs which represent physiological antagonists, and by adrenergic blocking drugs which are pharmacological antagonists of epinephrine.